Looking back on 3D Mario games for Super Mario Odyssey’s 6th Birthday

Today in gaming history, Super Mario Odyssey had its 6th birthday. The popular 3D platformer first hit the shelves back in 2017 for the Switch.

Super Mario Odyssey was the first 3D platformer in the franchise after four years of silence from Nintendo. Before Odyssey’s release, the last 3D platformer we saw our favorite plumber in was Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U.

Six years is relatively a long time in regards to games, but players are still enjoying the Odyssey experience today. The open world and challenge aspects of the game make it a timeless entry in the Super Mario Bros. franchise.

Leading up to Super Mario Odyssey

Back in 1996, Nintendo took a huge step by introducing us to the Nintendo 64. Alongside the N64, a huge turning point came about when Super Mario 64 hit the shelves. To say that Super Mario 64 is one of the franchise’s greatest is nowhere close to a stretch. It began a long line of high quality (and high performing) 3D platformers within the franchise.

Six years after the release of Super Mario 64, the Nintendo GameCube debuted with another fan-favorite of a platformer. Super Mario Sunshine marked the start of Mario utilizing other abilities beside the original power-ups. We were all introduced to FLUDD who accompanied Mario in Sunshine, overall broadening the plumbers gameplay range.

Later on, we got Super Mario Galaxy in 2007 as well as its sequel Super Mario Galaxy 2 in 2010. Both entries were playable on one of Nintendo’s most iconic consoles, the Wii. Similar to Super Mario Sunshine, these two entries further demonstrated Mario’s abilities beyond what we saw from him originally. As time progresses, Mario continues to show gamers what he is truly capable of.

In 2011 we were given Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS. This entry took us back to the linear, level based approach rather than the semi open world concept we had been seeing as of recent. Two years later we got Super Mario 3D World for the Wii U, which expanded on the previous linear level based approach.

And finally, after four years of silence from Nintendo, we were presented with the most recent of high performing 3D platformers, Super Mario Odyssey.